Product Description

French drama. A middle-aged schoolteacher begins to tutor one of his students privately, a young girl with a difficult past (Vanessa Paradis). They begin an affair which is destined to wreck the schoolteacher's marriage.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Noce Blanche is the story of a relationship between a teacher and one of his students. I first watched this about five years ago, and it is still one of my favourite films. I suspect, like most men, I bought this more due to the appeal of seeing a (then 18 years old) Vanessa Paradis flaunting around in her birthday suit than with a view to any greater understanding of foreign cinema. Ahem. Well, I'm pleased to say that the film doesn't disappoint in this respect. The nudity is fairly subtle, though, and of an artistic, realistic, form; if you're expecting a fantasy film you may be a little disappointed. The love scenes, also, are virtually none existent, but don't let this spoil your enjoyment: this is a top quality film and well worth buying.

I was surprised to discover a mature and realistic drama. This is well written, and perfectly captures both the teenage and middle aged vulnerabilities and torments that ravage us all. All that pining: Oh to be mature and sophisticated; oh to be young again. This is excellent; sweet at times, sour at others, never anything less than realistic and unforgiving. The acting is exemplary (Paradis won a César award). The characters are well developed, confidently acted and mature (it has to be said, once again: it seems foreign cinema is the place to rediscover what it is like to be an adult -- watch and compare this to some of the OTT childish dross masquerading as adult drama on TV nowadays). The cinematography and locations are also beautifully filmed, and the story is paced well, drawing you into the plot and leaving you... Well, I won't give the game away but the ending is powerful and sadly believable.

All in all, I can't recommend this enough. This is a film that will both stay with you, and find a place amongst your favourite DVD's. If it opens the door to a more mature and sophisticated taste in entertainment, also, it can't be too bad, can it?

Better known these days as the partner of American actor Johnny Depp, the incredibly beautiful French actress/singer/model Vanessa Paradis had a successful career of her own in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

Skyrocketing to fame with her debut album "M&J" in 1987 at the age of 14, I was transfixed by her beauty and smoldering demeanor as she performed her first hit single "Joe Le Taxi" on the (now-defunct) British pop show "The Roxy" (think American Bandstand, but with a 1980s cool). I asked a French pen-pal of mine to collect all articles she could find on Paradis and she obliged and it was from one of these French clippings that I learned .that Paradis had been signed to appear in the movie "Noce Blanche" (a.k.a. White Wedding).

I hoped and hoped that the movie would be released in my native United Kingdom and never saw it advertised or arrive at any of my local theaters. Perhaps I had misunderstood the French clipping, perhaps the movie had not been completed? It was a couple of years later that I learned that not only had Paradis completed the movie, but she had a very lucrative career overseas as an actress. Appearing in such movies as "Une Chance Sur Deaux" (a.k.a. Half a Chance), "Elisa" and "Un amour de sorcière" all the while continuing her music career with the awesome album "Bliss."

In recent years I have managed to track down DVDs of her live concert performance "Au Zenith" as well as DVDs of the excellent thriller "Une Chance Sur Deaux" and enjoyable "Un amour de sorcière." Yet, "Noce Blanche" has so far evaded me. Until now.

Of course the DVD has been available in France for sometime, but only with its original French track, and no subtitles.Read more ›

Vanessa Paradis debut acting performance is both exceptionally well performed and also crushingly beautifully played. She is cast as Mathilde Tessier who at first appears to be a lazy student hell bent on skipping class. When her teacher takes her under his wing to try and get to the route of the problem he finds himself drawn in by both her mystique and charisma. The affair begins and Mathilde's desperate situation becomes more and more apparant. When Francois' wife becomes aware of the dalliance she demands that it comes to an end.Thus begins the prolonged and agonising ending in which Mathilde self destructs and Francois realizes that he will never love like he loved her. Sounds cliched but the presence of Paradis and her truly startling beauty elevates the film above other standard fare and truly haunts the viewer after it's conclusion. Beautiful work.

An ageing, well meaning philosophy teacher comes to the aid of a troubled female student, only to realise that she is both philosophically extraordinary and also complex. Her home life, experiences and outlook, spark a passion within his personal interests as a teacher and patriarchal benefactor, which in turn lead them to becoming mutually infatuated with one another, not only in a teacher/student relationship but also as lovers. Which results in them embarking on a journey of taboo romance and learning, that will ultimately end in tears...

I first saw Noce Blanche in the early nineties during a tele screening, and although it's been in my dvd collection since it was originally released in the UK, it has taken me until now to re~watch it.

First off, the story itself plays out, as I'm sure you have guessed from my short synopsis, like a kind of modern day Lolita tale, only with a possibly greater leaning toward maybe how ones own fear of fitting within society, denies us our true and most honest outcome within our lives, when given our own innate desires and obsessions.? The dialogue and script is really well done, the main protagonists and support absolutely pitch perfect in their performances and delivery. With both the beaky Cremer and nubile young Paradis, an engaging and likeable pair, as they fall in love and reap the whirlwind as a result. There are countless scenes that are extremely well handled by the director, in both Paradis' attempts to provocatively ensnare the man of her dreams, their then blossoming, difficult love affair, and then the ultimate outcome of it, which stirs up several emotions in the viewer.Read more ›